When a large scale disaster strikes, it is difficult for help to arrive and serve everyone in need, especially if it is in a heavily populated area. Know how to prepare your home and family should you find yourself in a situation such as this. Learning essential skills such as water purification will help ensure you will have the nutrients you need, as well as help bring you the peace of mind you need in the face of disaster.
Storage
Before a disaster even hits, it is important to have an adequate amount of food and water storage. This supply can be built up slowly, and should be added to monthly. Dedicate a portion of your paycheck every week to food storage, then at the end of the month go make the investments. This should be done off of a checklist of which items you will need in your food storage, and the quantities that should be kept for a family of your size. Make sure to choose the items you will be able to eat, and those that will last for years to come. In addition to this, ensure your water supply is in durable containers that should be able to withstand some of the worst caused by a disaster. Try to only store water that has been treated so it is ready when emergencies happen. By doing this, you will be prepared when disaster strikes. These items should be stored in cool dark places in the home to keep them fresh.
Treating Water
Not every situation will be ideal, meaning you may have to rely on other sources than your treated stored water. Know how to purify water at a moments notice should a major disaster strike your area. There are three main methods to treating water that you are unsure of:
- Boiling – this is the safest and easiest way to treat your water. Bring the water to a full rolling boil for at least one minute. During this process, some of the water will evaporate as steam. Let the water cool before taking a drink. You might find that the water has a funny taste, to mend this bring back some of the oxygen by pouring the water back and forth between two cups.
- Distillation – this is the process of boiling the water, then using only the vapor that comes from the condensation. This substance will be the purest form of the water devoid of salt or other impurities that might be present. To do this, tie a cup to the lid of the pot so that when the lid is on, the cup will loosely hand right side up. Be sure the cup is not touching the water below. Let the water boil for about twenty minutes. The water that rises to the lid, then drips into the cup will be distilled.
- Chemical Treatment – if there is no heat source for you to boil your water, there are methods to disinfect using chemicals. Both bleach and purification tablets can be used to purify the water. Make sure you use both of these properly to ensure they will work as they should.
If a disaster strikes, make sure you are prepared for what could happen. By using the most effective water purification methods, you will have a safe source of drinking water, even after the worst occurs. This will be beneficial in case of disaster. Be prepared no matter what is thrown your way.
